Britain better off after Brexit: Jeremy Corbyn

In his first speech of 2017, Jeremy Corbyn is all set to claim that Britain is better off without EU and insist that the Labour party has no objection in ending the free movement of European workers in the UK.

Jeremy Corbyn, Labour leader, will pitch his party’s statement in an upcoming speech. He is doing so in the same year that Theresa May will trigger article 50.

These planned speeches and media appearances represent a new anti-establishment drive that is designed by strategists. It is done to popularise him and overturn the poor ratings throughout the country.

Starting in Peterborough, a town that has seen high rates of migration, Corbyn will use his strongest language till date. The town has been chosen because it is a marginal Tory seat and had voted hugely in favour of Brexit. After pointing out how May failed in revealing the Brexit planning, he will mention that the labour will not give any free pass to the government in negotiations.

“Labour is not wedded to freedom of movement for EU citizens as a point of principle. But nor can we afford to lose full access to the European single market on which so many British businesses and jobs depend. Changes to the way migration rules operate from the EU will be part of the negotiations,” he will say.

“Labour supports fair rules and reasonably managed migration as part of the post-Brexit relationship with the EU.”

The speech is scheduled at a time when there are tensions growing within the Labour party. High profile MPs, including deputy leader, Tom Watson and Yvette Cooper, home affairs committee chair, have suggested that the party has to change its position on free movement.

Even though Corbyn has been constantly criticised by his own party, he has always objected to EU state aid rules that prevent the government from intervening in industries like steel. He will also argue about taking back control of the jobs market with collective bargaining agreements in key sectors.